CNU has nine players on its roster, but starting center Amber Hallman missed this game as she continues her recovery from an appendectomy. CNU (4-2) lost its second straight without her. It was the first win this season in six games for Mary Washington.

As the Lady Captains go into a break from games until Jan. 3, there is a lot to think about. CNU coach Carolyn Hunter said although she plans to add two or three players in the second semester, this small group should still be playing better than it has in its last two games.

She acknowledged that Hallman is missed and that's put pressure on others, but still made no excuses for this loss.

"It's a mental thing," Hunter said. "They came in thinking they could beat this team and they need to play on the floor. The other team was just energized and focused, but I thought our players might already have been thinking about vacation.

"I think they learned a good lesson; this is good for us, as hard as that is to say. They just took this team for granted."

"We haven't played like we've been playing; we need to pick up our intensity from the beginning," Harrell said. "There's definitely a bit more pressure on the returners in general to pick it up, but obviously somebody needs to pick it up because what's going on now isn't cutting it."

Mary Washington (1-5) stuck with a zone defense and half-court offense for most of the game, but did get a bunch of baskets in transition. CNU kept the deficit in single digits until very late, but could never put together any sort of scoring run.

CNU cut an eight-point MWC lead to 53-52 on Chazzy Morris' free throw with 6:58 left.

But CNU didn't score for close to four minutes as the Eagles scored 10 straight points, capped by Laura Hanks' 3-pointer from the right wing, to lead 63-52 with 4:30 left.

CNU never rallied and MWC hit its free throws down the stretch to pump up the final margin to a misleading 20 points. Nevertheless, the Eagles celebrated like they had won a championship.

"We're young and starting to mature now," MWC coach Becky Timmins said. "This was a huge confidence booster for us."

Jennifer L. Williams can be reached at 247-4644 or by e-mail at jwilliams@dailypress.com